“I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens.”— Woody Allen. Those words of Woody Allen, an American film director, are not just captivating; they are also compelling. And frightening too.
Although in Western philosophy, as surmised by Martin Heidegger in his Being and Time (1962 p.289), “As soon as man comes to life, he is at once old enough to die,”. Truly, death is no respecter of age. Incontrovertibly, the saint and the sinner are both condemned to death and whoever does not die today will certainly do another day. But in one of the numerous submissions of my people, the say, “Ikú ọ̀dọ́ ò da.” Yes, it saddens the elders (good ones) whenever they hear the horrible news of a youth’s death.
However, today, the news of youth attempting suicide is rife in our society. To me, it is becoming execrably worrisome. When I had a chat with a friend— whom I am sure is reading this— last week, she forwarded a message to me. Therein, a friend of hers said she would have attempted suicide if not for the thoughts of the emotional devastation that would arrest her parents. I was shocked.
Today, I just stumbled on that piece of troubling news on a WhatsApp group — my poly coursemates— that a lady had (or about to)attempted suicide— a coursemate of ours. This is someone whom I believe she’s doing finely well some two years ago. I wouldn’t know what happened. Honestly, people are going through a lot of things. And they have subscribed to gloomy introspection as the way out. Oftentimes, this form of solution would always activate suicidal thoughts.
The meat of the matter is: it is indeed a trying time— especially for the youths. From the disturbing meance of unemployment, (peer) pressure, academic troubles, migration issues to failed relationships amongst others; most youths are having a tough time dealing with the aforementioned situations. And it has turned their minds to a pressure cooker.
Consequently, I’ll suggest parents, guardians and friends check on their children/wards/chums. Do not assume they are fine. Help them get through their difficulties. Sometimes, emotional support is enough to make their waving sea of troubles turn a still water. I believe you’d rather wrote a thrilling tribute on their success(es) than writing an elegy.
Undoubtedly, the reality of life is that: days and nights alternate. We live, we die. When all is said and done, we appreciate that everyday, death fires its arrows. Whoever escapes the arrow today will surely be hit another day, one way or another. Truly, we would not be here forever. But it isn’t glorifying when sun sets in the noon: Ikú ọ̀dọ́ ò da.
May every trouble soul find peace. You are not alone. You are loved. I AM WITH YOU.
P.C: A shot of the (attempted) suicide note..
#ADiSA
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